Just as it has in the previous two years, the Inner City Health Center turned up the heat with its signature fund-raiser, Salsa & Soul. “Shades of Blue at the Copacabana” was the subplot at this red-hot fandango held at Lakewood’s Belmar Events Center, and the food, drink and decor were planned accordingly.
Tony Rosacci’s Fine Catering furnished a buffet that was true “southern fusion” — equal parts soul and south-of-the-border — while dance music featured the salsa sounds of Kizumba and songbird Hazel Miller’s distinctive brand of soul.
7News anchor Anne Trujillo was mistress of ceremonies, sharing the spotlight with former Denver District Attorney Norm Early,who auctioned a host of valuable and unique items that included an original oil, “Shades of Blue,” by Denver artist Darrell Anderson. When he’s not coaxing bids or practicing law, Early writes books, does speaking engagements and serves as a legal analyst for TV.
A highlight of the evening came when the three who started Inner City Health Center, Drs. Duane Claassen and Bob Williams, plus Williams’ wife, Jan, presented the 2007 Founders Award to Major Tappan, a dentist and longtime ICHC volunteer.
Former CBS4 anchorwoman Aimee Sporer and her husband, attorney and radio talk show host Dan Caplis, were the benefit’s honorary chairmen. Event planners included Joyce Paloma, Dr. Dean Prina, Roselyn Saunders, Ron Montoya, Haven Moses, Don Peterson, Regina Nickels, Arlene Mohler Johnson, Linda Scott, Kelly Spencer, Sean McNicholas, Al Stapleton, Dana Abdelnour, Chandra Al-Khafaji, Lynda Arco, Brad Baltz, David Barnes, Kris Hakanson, Debra McCormick and Mike Malone.
The Inner City Health Center, 3405 Downing St., has served the uninsured and underserved for 20-plus years. Although a majority of those seeking adult medical care, prenatal services, pediatrics, dentistry and/or counseling, 40 percent of the ICHC clients are from suburban areas of Jefferson, Adams and Arapahoe counties.
Services are provided on a sliding scale basis by volunteer medical professionals and a limited number of paid staff. The ICHC has an Enterprise Zone designation that makes giving attractive to individual and business donors.
It was named Nonprofit of the Year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and a charity of choice by the Denver Broncos Charities in 2006.

Pictures taken at Salsa & Soul can be seen at denverpost.com/SeenGallery.

Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson’s column appears every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday in the Scene section. She can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.